Person

Joseph Matthew Watson was born in Heighington on 17 July 1894, and was baptised in the parish church on 26 August. His parents were Frank and Ruth, and in the baptism register, Frank was described as a shunter, probably at the extensive coal transhipment sidings at Shildon. By 1901 the family had moved to 13 Gladstone Terrace, in the North Eastern Railway company town of New Shildon, and Frank had moved up the hierarchy of the North Eastern Railway to be a mineral guard.

Joseph was the middle of the five Watson children, with two older siblings – Robert Edward (4 years older) and Rose Elizabeth Mary (3 years older) – and two younger – Francis William (2 years younger) and John Harold (5 years younger). It is likely that the family’s local moves are indicated by the birth-places of the children – Robert was born in Redworth, Rose, Joseph and Francis in Heighington, and John in Darlington.

In 1911 the family was still at Gladstone Terrace, and Frank continued as a mineral train guard. Robert was now an apprentice cabinet maker, Rose a grocer’s clerk, Francis an engineering apprentice (probably in the railway workshops in the town), John was still at school, and there were three additions to the family – Ruth Winifred (age 9), Henry Wilfred (age 4) and Doris (age 3). The sixteen-year old Joseph was described as a pupil-teacher, and he was undertaking his training at Old Shildon Council School. The school log book recorded that he had begun as a pupil-teacher on 1 August 1910 and that he had successfully passed the Cambridge Junior Local Examination (a school-leaving examination), and had been awarded a County Council Scholarship in 1908. While a pupil-teacher he also attended Bishop Auckland Grammar School. He ended his time as a pupil-teacher at Old Shildon School on 30 July 1912.

Joseph spent his next two years at Bede College in Durham City, training as a teacher. Unfortunately his College record gives very little information, other than a note about his death. His subsequent career would indicate that he joined the Territorial Army while at College and became a member of the college company (B Company) of the 8th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. In 1914, at the end of his two years at College, he applied for a teaching post with Durham County Council, and was appointed to New Shildon Council School. The head teacher recorded on 20 July that Joseph ‘lately a student of Bede College called at school today to say that he had been appointed as C[ertificated] A[ssistant] …’, and two days later formal notice was received of Joseph’s appointment from 24 August, at a salary of £95 p.a. When 24 August arrived the school log book noted that Joseph was absent ‘on home service owing to the outbreak of war between Germany and England’, however, the head teacher allocated him to teach class 4. Joseph, as a Territorial Army member, was called-up at the outbreak of war, and he was given permission to enlist by the County Education Committee on 31 August 1914, one of the first teachers named.

On 10 September Joseph visited the school in uniform, the log book recording him as a corporal in the 6th battalion of the DLI, ‘at present at East Boldon doing field work’. Log book entries on 5 and 26 October 1914 and 11 January 1915 recorded that Joseph continued to be absent on war service, and on 1 February he again called at the school (this time correctly identified as a lance-corporal) to report that he was ‘booked for foreign service at an early date’. In fact his battalion went to France on 20 April 1915. Within three days it was ordered into the front line to take part in the Second Battle of Ypres, and it was during the fighting at Gravenstafel Ridge, east of Ypres, that Joseph Watson was killed.

On 28 May the New Shildon School log book recorded that A letter came to hand this morning from a member of staff missing since the 8th DLI were in action at Ypres on April 25th 1915. Mr. Joseph M. Watson, Lance Corporal. He was wounded in the back and taken prisoner by the Germans. His letter, dated April 29th, asks that food, lemon crystals, magazines, or chocolate be sent to him.

Although Joseph was wounded, he was evidently still alive on 29 April, and the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle of 4 June both list him as wounded and a prisoner in Germany. However, on 20 July the log book noted ‘News came today from the War Office, that Corporal Joseph M. Watson died of “gunshot wound in spinal column and abdomen” on May 10th 1915, at Lazaret No.94, Ledegham, Germany’. Joseph’s Bede College file records that he was ‘Mortally wounded in action April 25 died in a German Field Hospital on or about May 9th. Is reported by his comrades to have behaved with great coolness under heavy bombardment’.

Joseph was one of the first teachers to be called-up and he was also in the first list of casualties reported to the County Council Education Committee on 3 May 1916 (although he had, of course, died a year earlier). He is buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Belgium, 20 miles east of Ypres. This cemetery was created after the Armistice when graves were brought from the surrounding 1918 battlefields, and in 1924/25 graves from German cemeteries in Belgium were added, presumably including that of Joseph Watson.

Joseph’s death is recorded on the plaque, cross and roll of honour at Bede College (although he is listed as ‘Jack’ on the roll of honour), and on the County Hall memorial. He is unusual among the names on the memorial in that he never actually worked as a qualified teacher, since he was called-up before he could begin his first teaching post.

Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19 CD
Medal Rolls Index Cards
North East War Memorials Project website
Heighington baptism register, EP/He 23, p.100
Durham County Council Education Committee minute book, CC/A26/1/22, pp.1-3
Durham County Council Education Committee minute book, CC/A26/1/26, pp.11-12
Register of certificated teachers, CC/Ed 277 (no.2993)
Old Shildon Council School log book, E/SW 86, pp.366-367,383,409
New Shildon Council School log book, E/SW 80, pp.210,212-216,222,225,233,238
Bede College students’ record sheets, E/HB 2/236, f.108
1901 Census return, RG 13/4647, ff.65v-66r, pp.28-29
1911 Census return, RG 14/29746, sch.280
Durham Advertiser, 4 June 1915, p.3f
Durham Chronicle, 4 June 1915, p.5c

Civil Parish: East Thickley

Birth date: 17-Jul-1894

Death date: 10-May-1915

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Heighington
13 Gladstone Terrace, New Shildon

Education: Bede College, Durham, 1912-1914

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Pupil-teacher at Old Shildon Council School
Pupil-teacher at Bishop Auckland Grammar School
Assistant teacher at New Shildon Council School

Family: Parents: Frank Watson and Ruth Watson
Brothers: Robert Edward, Francis William, John Harold and Henry Wilfred Watson
Sisters: Rose Elizabeth Mary, Ruth Winifred and Doris Watson

Military service:

Territorial Army- (B Company) of the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Lance-Corporal in the 6th Battalion DLI

Memorial(s): Bede College plaque, cross and roll of honour
County Hall memorial, Durham city

Gender: Male

Contributed by Durham County Record Office | Amy Scott